Sensex trades flat at 12,215 at 1040 hrs

Mumbai, May 3: Markets turned volatile this morning as the BSE Sensex touched new all time high of 12,323, then dipped into red trading at a low of 12,134 as compared to the last close of 12,218.

Sensex traded flat at 12,215 at 1040 hrs.

The crude oil prices hovered around USD 75 per barrels this morning at US 74.90 per barrel and investors in the markets were nervous as the Government was contemplating a hike in the petroleum products.

In the last three days, bull run Sensex has gained 874 points and profit booking may be the order of the day.

Earlier today, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensitive Index (Sensex) opened higher with a gap of 13 points at 12,231.12 as compared to the last close of 12,218 points and soon crossed the 12,300 mark touching a high of 12,323 in the first half an hour of trading.

Earlier the National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index opened flat at 3,604 as compared to the last close of 3605.45 and touched a high of 3,637 before falling to a low of 3,581.

Nifty traded flat at 3,603.75 around 1045 hrs.

Profit booking was seen across the sectors this morning led by 1.33 per cent dip in the BSE Metal index. BSE Small and Midcap indices were flat around 1045 hrs.

Top Sensex losers were Hindalco, Dr Reddy's Lab., Grasim Industries, Ranbaxy, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Gujarat Ambuja Cements, ACC, HLL, and Bajaj Auto.

Top gainers were Satyam Computers, Hero Honda, ITC, HDFC, Bharti , SBI.

UNI